Sen. Blumenthal backing plan to study e-cigarette sales and marketing

Tuesday

Oct 20, 2015 at 6:54 AM

Jayne Ashley The Bulletin

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA- Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, along with several other senators, are backing the Federal Trade Commission's plan to study the sales and marketing of electronic cigarettes in America.

“While a welcome move, this step is long overdue. ‎I’m heartened to see the Commission turn its attention to this threat to our young people, but the lack of definitive deadlines is troubling. Swift and effective action is necessary to prevent another generation already in danger of nicotine addiction. I will continue to push aggressively to ensure the Commission completes this work expeditiously – the more quickly they act the more potential we have to save young lives,” said Senator Blumenthal.

According to a 2014 study in the journal Pediatrics, exposure to e-cigarette marketing by children aged 12 to17 increased by 256% between 2011 and 2013, exposing 24 million children to e-cigarette advertisements, said the release.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2014 National Youth and Tobacco Survey found that in just one year, from 2013 to 2014, e-cigarette use among high school students tripled, from 4.5% to 13.4%. The University of Michigan's annual Monitoring the Future survey showed that more teenagers reported using e-cigarettes than traditional tobacco products in 2014, said the release.

The data would provide the basis for a report on the expenditures and targeting tactics of e-cigarette companies.

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